AI SAY- An enthusiastic endorsement for someone who made a mark on something.

AI SI- Want to die. Courting death.

AI SI BEH SI- Want to die but cannot.

AI SWEE- Vain.

AI YO- Uttered when in shock or disbelief over an unexpected happening.

ALABAI/BAI- Way of addressing a Sikh. The term bhai means brother.

ALABAI JOPE- A game played by churlish Chinese that pokes fun at Sikhs. It involves shouting that phrase out each time and at the same time make a five finger beak on both hands each time we encounter a Sikh because they are rare.

ALAMAK- An expression of dismay/surprise/alarm.

APONG BIN- Vagina face. Swear language.

APONG SIN- Vagina spirit. A man who chose woman over his friends.

ANG KI KI- As red as ever. A teaser used to describe the blush of colour on a persons face after having a drink too many or one who dresses up in red.

ANG KU IN- A type of sweetcake mold. Used to describe siblings/families/couples with similar facial/physical features.

ANG KONG LOR- Red grandfather’s road/God’s road. A miracle. Uttered when something good but usually out of the ordinary happens.

CH’IEW CHENG/ CH’IEW CHENG KNIAR/ CH’IEW CHENG LAN- Hand gun. Describes one who misses the target as in a game or challenge or one who always catches the wrong end of the stick. Most of the time it is said in jest.

CHI HONG- A frustrated person.

CH’I LEOW BEE- Feed waste rice. To describe someone useless or a waste even after consuming so much rice.

CH’I KO PEK- A dirty old man.

CHIN CHNIA TU LAN- Really fed up.

CHIN KAN TAN /CHIN CHNIA KAN TAN – Very easy.

CHIN CHAI- Anyhow.

CHIN NGIAU- A Fussypot.

CHIN CHNIA LUAN- Very annoying.

CHIN GOW TAN- An irritating wailer.

CHIN KHARM LAN/CHIN CHNIA KHARM LAN- Very mischevious.

CHIN KOW GIAK- Very demanding.

CHIN CH’IO- Very dashing and well dressed.

CH’IO KAR BUEK LAU JIO- Laugh till one pee. An extremely hilarious incident that causes one to react that way hence the phrase.

The author/owner has also compiled for record, a collection of everyday Hokkien Phrases to capture the essence and spirit of his hoi polloi, a community originating from the southern province of Fujian, China where individuals climbed aboard bum boats, crossing the South China Sea to settle in faraway lands to escape the brewing civil unrest and a way out from hardship carrying along with them in their journey, nothing except their trademark ponytails and their beliefs, very much rooted in Confucianism. These phrases are as much as possible being conserved in its purest state despite having some which had been mixed with other local dialects and languages but nevertheless the Hokkien lingo took prominence over the rest. This list is continuously updated.

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I am a child usurped into the vagaries of an enigmatic world. Amidst that humdrum, I found in quiet solitude, a whole new world that I can finally breathe in. A world where there is no distinction between heaven, earth and man- between what is, what is to come and what has been..

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Author/Owner: Kris Lee Since Nov 2009. Blogname: fiveloaf.wordpress.com. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of materials without express or written permission is strictly prohibited. All images and reading materials are strictly author/owner's own unless attributed.